What does INITIAL mean?
Definitions for INITIAL
ɪˈnɪʃ əlini·tial
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word INITIAL.
Princeton's WordNet
initialadjective
the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)
"he refused to put the initials FRS after his name"
initialverb
occurring at the beginning
"took the initial step toward reconciliation"
initialverb
mark with one's initials
Wiktionary
initialnoun
The first letter of a word or a name.
initialnoun
In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit
You can get your initials printed at the top.
initialnoun
A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
initialnoun
onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
initialverb
To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.
initialadjective
Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin
initialadjective
Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Initialadjective
Etymology: initial, French; initialis, from initium, Lat.
In the editions, which had no more than the initial letters, he was made by Keys to hurt the inoffensive. Alexander Pope.
Moderate labour of the body conduces to the preservation of health, and cures many initial diseases; but the toil of the mind destroys health, and generates maladies. Gideon Harvey.
The schools have used a middle term to express this affection, and have called it the initial fear of God. John Rogers.
Wikipedia
Initial
In a written or published work, an initial or drop cap is a letter at the beginning of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph that is larger than the rest of the text. The word is derived from the Latin initialis, which means standing at the beginning. An initial is often several lines in height and in older books or manuscripts, sometimes ornately decorated. In illuminated manuscripts, initials with images inside them, such as those illustrated here, are known as historiated initials. They were an invention of the Insular art of the British Isles in the eighth century. Initials containing, typically, plant-form spirals with small figures of animals or humans that do not represent a specific person or scene are known as "inhabited" initials. Certain important initials, such as the Beatus initial or "B" of Beatus vir... at the opening of Psalm 1 at the start of a vulgate Latin psalter These specific initials, in an illuminated manuscript, also were called initiums.
ChatGPT
initial
Initial, as an adjective, refers to something that occurs at the beginning or start of a process, event, or situation. It can also describe a preliminary or introductory stage or step. As a noun, it denotes the first letter of a person's name or a word.
Webster Dictionary
Initialadjective
of or pertaining to the beginning; marking the commencement; incipient; commencing; as, the initial symptoms of a disease
Initialadjective
placed at the beginning; standing at the head, as of a list or series; as, the initial letters of a name
Initialnoun
the first letter of a word or a name
Initialverb
to put an initial to; to mark with an initial of initials
Etymology: [L. initialis, from initium a going in, entrance, beginning, fr. inire to go into, to enter, begin; pref. in- in + ire to go: cf. F. initial. See Issue, and cf. Commence.]
Wikidata
Initial
In a written or published work, an initial is a letter at the beginning of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph that is larger than the rest of the text. The word is derived from the Latin initialis, which means standing at the beginning. An initial often is several lines in height and in older books or manuscripts, sometimes ornately decorated. In illuminated manuscripts, initials with images inside them, such as those illustrated here, are known as historiated initials. They were an invention of the Insular art of the British Isles in the eighth century. Initials containing, typically, plant-form spirals with small figures of animals or humans that do not represent a specific person or scene are known as "inhabited" initials. Certain important initials, such as the B of Beatus vir ... at the opening of Psalm 1 at the start of a vulgate Latin psalter, could occupy a whole page of a manuscript. These specific initials, in an illuminated manuscript, also were called Initiums.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Initial
in-ish′al, adj. commencing: placed at the beginning.—n. the letter beginning a word, esp. a name.—v.t. to put the initials of one's name to:—pr.p. init′ialing (-alling); pa.p. init′ialed (-alled).—v.t. Init′iāte, to make a beginning: to instruct in principles: to acquaint with: to introduce into a new state or society.—v.i. to perform the first act or rite.—n. one who is initiated.—adj. fresh: unpractised.—n. Initiā′tion, act or process of initiating: act of admitting to any society, by instructing in its rules and ceremonies.—adj. Init′iātive, serving to initiate: introductory.—n. an introductory step: the power or right of commencing.—adj. Init′iātory, tending to initiate: introductory.—n. introductory rite. [L. initialis—initium, a beginning, inīre, inītum—in, into, īre, ītum, to go.]
Editors Contribution
initial
A number of letters to express a name.
The employees did initial their change on the quality assurance procedure.
Submitted by MaryC on March 15, 2020
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'INITIAL' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1626
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'INITIAL' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3390
Adjectives Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'INITIAL' in Adjectives Frequency: #207
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of INITIAL in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of INITIAL in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Examples of INITIAL in a Sentence
Our initial review of the allegations has caused alarm and distress over their serious nature, the Utah Attorney General recently made the committee aware of credible evidence of misconduct by a U.S. District Court Judge.
You have conversations, then you have follow-ups, then people come to the table, but all the initial responses that I am getting is that they are very delighted.
Well that's such an honor. The initial show, wow, good luck. You'll do well.
Destin said. The few witnesses who were available had not seen the initial confrontation with the president's assassins. According to a report seen by CNN, Destin was able to interview Jean Laguel Civil, chief coordinator of presidential security, who is currently wanted by police in relation to the case.
Initial reports suggest the fire resulted from a lightning strike, and we will work with local authorities to confirm the cause and to remediate the impacts.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for INITIAL
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- أول, إنسيالArabic
- inicials, inicial, obertura, caplletraCatalan, Valencian
- počáteční, výchozíCzech
- erster, Initiale, anfänglich, Anfangsbuchstabe, ursprünglich, InitialGerman
- αρχικόςGreek
- inicialSpanish
- alkukirjain, varhainen, esi-, alustava, nimikirjaimet, alkuperäinen, alku-, anfangi, nimikirjaimilla, ensimmäinenFinnish
- première lettre, initial, initiale, parapher, lettrineFrench
- túslitirIrish
- tùsailScottish Gaelic
- प्रारंभिकHindi
- սկզբնատառArmenian
- inizialeItalian
- 声母, 始め, 最初, イニシャル, 初期Japanese
- ಆರಂಭಿಕKannada
- 聲母, 성모Korean
- initialLatin
- beginletter, initiaal, voorletter, paraferenDutch
- førsteNorwegian
- inicjałPolish
- inicial, inicialmentePortuguese
- iniţialăRomanian
- парафировать, инициаль, первый, буквица, исходный, первоначальный, первичный, начальный, оригинальный, начальная буква, инициалRussian
- inicijal, иницијалSerbo-Croatian
- initialSwedish
- ஆரம்பTamil
- แรกเริ่มThai
- ilkTurkish
- 聲母, thanh mẫuVietnamese
- ערשטYiddish
- 初始Chinese
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